How do you handle a pushy customer?

[Jusmowin]

I have a customer that is very instistant that she instructs me on trimming her bushes. I dont feel i need instruction, so how should i tactfully handle this person?

[eslawns]

Big profit here? If so, be nice. Be nice any way. Just ask what she expects them to look like when you finish, then do what she wants. If she stands there while you work and this bothers you, ask her not to. If she's just hard to get along with, just tell her she'll need to find someone else. I just did this a year ago with my second client ever. What a relief! I can put up with some guff, but...

[John DiMartino]

Have her instruct you only 1 time,pay careful attention to her since they are her property,thank her for giving such detailed instructions,and tell her that you will do the same everytime from now on,and that it wont be necessary for her to tell you everytime.If she doesnt get the hint,be prepared to either drop her or charge her an additional charge for time lost due to her slowing you while working.

[bob]

I agree with the other posts. If you are miserable every time that you work there, get rid of the customer. I got rid of a couple of lawns that I hated, and boy I'm glad! Send he a nice letter that says you will not be able to provide lawn service to her any more. P.S.-How often do you trim her hedges?

[thelawnguy]

LOL, I did bushes Friday for a longtime customer, her elderly ex-husband was visiting for the week from SC, hovered over my shoulder for the first ten minutes, then I shut down the trimmer, without saying a word, and headed for the truck. When he asked what was wrong, I told him in a calm but stern voice, "Im going for a coffee, when I return in five minutes if you're still out here Im driving right by and coming back in two weeks to finish up." When I returned his car was gone and I finished the job with no interruptions.

[BUSHMASTER]

i would early on that:
1.my insurance requires me to clear area when work is being done.
2.it's a little hard to trim safley and with by standers, safty hazard.
3.my insurance,my insurance my insurance
I don't think they would argue after all when you get car work done in a shop(that your not freinds with)they don't allow you in the bay unless it's to show you something.

[diggerman]

Tell her your trimmer has a tendance to go hay wire and you can't control it and you wouldn't want her to get injured maybe even lose fingers or have her eye put out,you still haven't got over the last customer this happened to. She won't watch for long.

[landscaper3]

Hey mow buck naked she will either be terrified or shell see you in an all new manner

[Cutter1]

All good ideas. I like lawn guys idea the best!!! Although trimming in your birthday suit sounds like it may work too.

[Lanelle]

Not only are those shrubs the lady's property, she may have had a bad experience with the last guy who tried to trim them. Listen to her. If she is asking for reasonable type of trimming, assure her that you understand and just do it. Since some types shrubs are usually hand-pruned while others accept shearing, be sure you pay attention to what you are trimming. And if you're not sure which is correct, go learn. If you can show this lady that you do an excellent job, she will probably leave you alone and brag about you to her friends. If you have specific questions about which shrubs to hand prune, please ask on the landscape forum.

[MOW ED]

Sorry to be a smart a** but I only do 1 cut pruning - at the base. No instruction needed. Nothing to trim around.

[geogunn]

do what she says. take her money. go get a beer.

GEO

[Charles]

I tell people that I charge more if the watch or supervise.

[eslawns]

Cut in your birthday suit and you may get a bee sting on your willy! OOOUUUCCCHHH!

[GrassMaster]

Hello Everybody:

>>Charles said Quote:I tell people that I charge more if they watch or supervise.<<

Thats probably the best advise there is to give a customer!

It's hard to remember everything but need to try to include that line in yo spill when talking to customer first time if at all possible. I always told them that they just tell me what they want & I do it, I do not need any help or advise & if they like to supervise or watch real close, that we charge extra. That I will not mention it but this one time & I hope they understand this when I charge them extra for this at the end of the month.

Works 99% of time but then you got the ones that still want to aggervate the shinola out of ya, then when you are at you highest level of threshold of pain you can absolutely stand, just do as I do & hand them the tools. It usually stops them dead in their tracks.

[Stinger]

I agree with thelawnguy, thanks for the good laugh Bill!
Jusmowin, ask the lady exactly what she wants. Then let her know when you have a question or you're finished you will let her know. If she persists, and if you can afford to lose her send her a letter stating your no longer cutting hedges. Like Grass Master I've also tried handing over the tools to the (expert) customer and they retreat rather quickly. If all else fails just go up on your price, that will either help you out $$$ wise or allow the problem to take care of itself.

[Jusmowin]

thanks yall for all the help, the advice really helped . I just asked her how she wanted the bushes trimmed and thanked her

[southside]

Tell her in a real sppoky voice that "the voices in my head
say I must kill again". Works everytime. :)

Karl